PHARMACIST LEADERSHIP OF PHARMACY PRACTICE

To affirm the importance of an organizational structure in hospitals and health systems that places administrative, clinical, and operational responsibility for pharmacy practice under a pharmacist leader; further,

To affirm the role of the pharmacist leader in oversight and supervision of all pharmacy personnel; further,

To recognize the role of other members of the pharmacy workforce in leadership and management roles within pharmacy departments.

Rationale

The ASHP Long-Range Vision for the Pharmacy Workforce in Hospitals and Health Systems sees a growing role for other members of the pharmacy workforce, to include nonpharmacists, in management and leadership positions in hospitals and health systems. Many factors are fueling this expansion, including a shortage of experienced pharmacist leaders, pharmacists’ salaries, and the growing complexity of the pharmacy enterprise. There are many functions in the pharmacy department that can be led or managed by nonpharmacists, including management of technological, business, or financial matters. Although nonpharmacists fill many important supporting leadership and management roles within pharmacy departments, a pharmacist should lead the pharmacy enterprise, supervise and manage all pharmacy personnel, and be responsible for the administrative, clinical, and operational functions of pharmacy departments in hospitals and health systems. Specifically, a pharmacist leader should have operational decision-making authority related to pharmacy practice. The intrinsic value a pharmacy executive brings to an organization’s enterprise and executive leadership is further described in the ASHP Statement on the Roles and Responsibilities of the Pharmacy Executive. Use of other specialized members of the pharmacy workforce expertise will vary, depending on the size and complexity of the pharmacy enterprise. These roles will be more prevalent in large facilities and less so in small or rural facilities, where there is likely to be less specialization in pharmacy functions.